SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT STANDING COMMITTEE
ON PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES
PRESENTS THREE ADAMS PRO BONO PUBLICO AWARDS
In
recognition of outstanding commitment to providing volunteer
legal services for the poor and disadvantaged in Massachusetts,
Supreme Judicial Court Justice Francis X. Spina, on behalf
of the Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Pro
Bono Legal Services, presented the sixth annual Adams Pro
Bono Publico Awards to three recipients at a special ceremony
in the John Adams Courthouse on June 4.
The award recipients
are Attorney Leigh-Ann Patterson Durant of Lexington, Associate General Counsel
of Clinical Trials and Medical Affairs for EMD Serono, Inc. in Rockland, formerly
of Nixon Peabody LLP; Attorney Holly Sanborn Dyar of Kingston, a solo practitioner
in Plymouth; and the Boston office of the law firm of Dechert, LLP.
Justice Spina said, “As
with past recipients of the Adams Awards, these awardees have demonstrated outstanding
commitment to the attorney’s role of public citizen through their pro bono
work. This year’s recipients have distinguished themselves and their profession
by a dedication to the rule of law and to the value of every human life. Their
unselfish service deserves public acknowledgement. We are grateful for their
achievements.”
The Committee also
recognized the pro bono work of approximately seventy attorneys, who volunteered “in
the finest tradition of the Massachusetts bar” to represent persons who
were detained or affected by the New Bedford, Massachusetts, law enforcement
action on March 6, 2007 (See attached list ).
In
opening remarks, Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall congratulated
the Adams Award winners and the attorneys who received
special recognition for their pro bono work at the afternoon
event, which was attended by families and colleagues of
the recipients.
Attorney
Durant is honored for her exemplary commitment to providing
pro bono services to underserved segments of the population,
particularly the elderly, the physically disabled, victims
of domestic violence, and low income clients. While at
Nixon Peabody LLP, she served as the Pro Bono Partner in
charge of the firm's pro bono caseload. Working with
numerous organizations, she held annual pro bono events
at the firm to help recruit lawyers to take clients on
a volunteer basis. Attorney Durant dedicated herself to
pro bono work early in her career. As president of the
Women's Bar Association from 2000 to 2001, she strongly
supported the organization's pro bono programs. Ms.
Durant received a J. D. degree, cum laude, from Suffolk
University Law School and a B.A. degree from Miami University
of Ohio.
Attorney
Dyar is recognized for the countless hours she has volunteered
to provide legal services to individuals with low income.
She has received referrals through the Legal Services of
Cape Cod and the Islands and The New Center for Legal Advocacy.
A member of the Plymouth District Bar Association, she
regularly volunteers in the lawyer-of-the-day program at
the Plymouth Probate and Family Court. She also created
the "Teddy Bear Project," which provides free
stuffed animals for children adopted in the Court. Attorney
Dyar received her J.D. degree from the New England School
of Law. She holds a B.A. degree from East Carolina University.
The
Boston office of Dechert LLP is recognized for its longstanding
and ongoing commitment to pro bono work. Among the firm's
numerous pro bono cases are its efforts on behalf of immigrants
who were detained following the March 6, 2007 factory raid
in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Dechert, on its own initiative,
provided the detainees with pro bono legal assistance.
Other pro bono cases deserving special recognition include
a successful class action against the Massachusetts Bay
Transportation Authority on behalf of people with disabilities
and the representation of a prisoner in a civil rights
suit against Massachusetts prison guards.
Attorney
Mary Ryan of Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP chairs the Standing
Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services, and provided welcoming
remarks at the Adams Awards event.
 |
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice
Margaret H. Marshall (left) and Supreme Judicial
Court Justice Francis X. Spina (far right) congratulate
the 2007 John Adams and John Quincy Adams Pro Bono
Publico Awards recipients: (from left) Attorney
Holly Sanborn Dyar; Attorney Leigh-Ann Patterson
Durant; and Attorney Bernard Bonn III for Dechert
LLP, Boston.
|
 |
Attorney Mary Ryan of Nutter McLennen & Fish
LLP, chair of the Supreme Judicial Court Standing
Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services (at left)
and Supreme Judicial Court Justice Francis X. Spina
(sixth from left) with attorneys recognized for
their pro bono legal services provided to persons
detained or affected by the New Bedford, Massachusetts,
enforcement action of March 6, 2007
|
|
